Easter in Philadelphia, part 2

Yes, we decided to spend this Easter in Philadelphia, again. What a good choice!

We started our trip with a visit to the Penn Museum (Jakob's teacher recommended it), where Jakob really could show off. We were impressed how much he learned about Egypt. There is still some hope...ha,ha.

Our hotel was a great deal at Jetsetter (Hotel Monaco), with a wonderful view over the historic district, right across from the Liberty Bell. 

The highlight of this trip was definitely the Rodin Museum!!! "The Thinker", I know him from all my philosophy books, here he was in front of me! 

And so many other famous sculptures, like "The Kiss", and most impressive "The Gate to Hell".
You can not top this! 

Maybe with a stroll through the streets of south Philly... Or with a dinner at an excellent Spanish restaurant...

Sunday belonged to the Museum of Art. Wow! Almost everybody knows the stairs from the "Rocky" movies. The huge art collection is stunning!  

We enjoyed the  unusual " Outsider collection" the most. 

Needless to say, the Easter bunny found us even in Philadelphia...

But how did this "Thinker" find his way to our home??

Turning 45....

What cheers you up when you are getting one year older again? 

For me it's sunshine and a day spent with my husband in the most exciting city! 

Jakob preferred to go on one of his beloved camping trips with the scouts (42 degree!!), so it was just Olaf and me. 

We started the day in our favorite Cafe in SoHo, continued with a glass of champaign and finished in a very cool spanish restaurant (new discovery!). In between we walked through the streets, enjoyed the sunshine and did some birthday shopping. 

What could a girl wish more for?!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

What better way to start the St. Patrick's Day than with a Bloody Mary and a brunch?! And with good friends, of course!! 

That's how we honored St. Patrick today. I think he would be proud of us. Ha, ha...

To the Irish!!!

"...May the road rise up to meet you 

May the wind be always at your back

May the warm rays of the sun fall upon your home

And may the hand of a friend always be near..."

                     Old Irish Blessing

A man's desire...

...is a new tool! To be precise: a chain saw. That's what my husband wished for his 46th birthday. And he got it! A new addition for his (very well equipped!) work shop. 

After Sandy we have plenty of wood in our back yard, which he would love to use for our fire place. The only problem is that we have a gas fire place... 

Well, there is nothing which couldn't be done...

"As you like it"

We liked it very much! Shakespeare's play at the New Victory Theater in NYC! 

During the past years, we have been many times to the Met, watched operas, ballet and all kinds of shows, listened to classic music and jazz, but we never made it to the theater... 

So, it was the very first time: Shakespeare in English! 

Even Jakob enjoyed it! Yeah, there is still hope...(ha,ha)

A New Jersey tradition

Snowstorm in March! Every year the same procedure. 

Jakob was very happy, the schools were closed. Besides, he got a pan cake breakfast and a whole day in his PJ's! All you need for a cozy, snowy day. And we even kept power!

Ps. Olaf was happy too, he was able to use his snow blower!

The toughest thing...

  

...is to say a last good-bye to somebody we love. 

I had to do it at my beloved grandma's funeral in Germany last Saturday. 

But I am sure Grandma was watching us and smiling, all her six grandkids came together (from USA and Poland). We all wished it would have been for a different reason, but it felt so good to see each other after all these years. 

It must have made my grandma happy to hear us talking and laughing about our childhood memories. 

I could feel her right there with us. 

And I think, my parents did too...